Mail-box, &amp;c.



PATENTBD NOV. 22, 1904.

.M. is. & H s. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, &c.

APPLIUATIGN FILED AUG. 20, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

gr o'r zzrj No. 775,630. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

M. B. & H. s. MILLS. MAIL BOX, m.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 20, 1903.

5 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

No. 775,630. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

- M. B. &'H. S. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, 8m.

APP'LIQATION FILED AUG. 20, 1903. N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w IIIIIIII/l IIIIIIIIIII'III g: A

PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

M. B & H. s. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20. 1903.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

fizmezz MM my MW No. 775,680. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

M. B. & H. S. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, &0.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 20. 1903.

NO MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

7 AllVII/IIIlI/IIIlI/IIIIIIIlI/IIIIIIA YIIIIIIIIIIII/ Patented November 22, 1904.

NITED STATES PATENT ()rricn.

MORTIMER B. MILLS AND HERBERT S. MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,630, dated November 22, 1904. Application filed August 20, 1903. Serial No. 176,108. (No modelfl To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, MORTIMER B. MILLs and HERBERT S. MILLS, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Boxes, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

The primary object of our present invention is the provision of an improved mail-box equipped with numbering or printing mechanism whereby letters introduced may be numbered or have printed thereon the place and hour of deposit, or both, if desired.

The invention was primarily designed for use in combination with a coin-controlled lock controlling the operation of the machine and is so illustrated in the accompanying drawings for clearness of understanding,the claims in the present application beinglimited, however, to the construction. of the mail-box without reference to the lock as being coin-controlled.

In the drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 represents an end view of our improved mailbox with one end plate removed, the closure device controlling the introduction of the mail being in its elevated or open position; Fig. 2, a similar view with the closure device in its depressed or closed position; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken sectional View looking at the inner side of the front of the casing, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 4: of Fig. 3, the full lines indicating the position of the closure device in the closed condition and the dotted lines indicating the position thereof in the open condition; Fig. 5, a broken section taken as indicated at line 5 and showing a detail of the coin-controlled mechanism with the parts in one position; Fig. 6, a View. similar to that of Fig. 5, showing the parts in another position; Fig. 7 a broken sectional View taken as indicated at line .7 of Fig. 3 and showing the locking means for the closure device which are connected with the coin-controlled mechanism; Fig. 8, a section taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 2 looking toward the rear of the box; Fig. 9, a broken section taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 3 and showing the counting device; Fig. 10, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 10 of Fig. 3 and showing an indicator for indicating whether or not the box contains mail; Fig. 11, a plan View of astationary plate constituting the upper wall of the letter-chute andthe printing mechanism carried by said plate; Fig. 12, a section taken as indicated at line 12 of Fig. 11 and showing the printing mechanism in the depressed or printing position, and Fig. 13 a similar section showing the printing mechanism in the elevated position.

A description of the preferred construction is as follows: A represents a casing or mailbox having a front side A, a rear side A and lateral sides A A A a lower door or closure device supported on vertical pivots a and provided at the lower free corner with a lug a, said door serving as a closure whereat the mail may be removed; A, a top for the mailbox connected with the rear upper portion of the box by pivots o and constituting a movable upper closure device whereat the letters may be introduced; A an opening or cutaway portion at the upper portion of the front of the box, affording an opening whereat mail may be introduced when the cover is in its elevated position; B, a horizontally-disposed letter-chute comprising a fixed upper plate B and swinging angular members B B supported on pivots I); C, a rock-shaft extending parallel with the frontof the casing and journaled near one end in a bearing 0, rising from the plate B, and journaled at the other end in a suitable bearing (not shown) with which the end plate A of the casing is provided; C, a cam-arm fixed to the shaft C and serving to lift the cover or upper closure device; C an arm fixed at its upper end to the shaft C and equipped at its lower end with a pawl C, engaging the curved rack or toothed segment C, which is'fixed to the inner surface of the casingplate A; C a handle'through the medium of which the shaft C is actuated; D, a printing mechanism frame connected at its rear end by means of a pivot with the rear end of the fixed plate B of the letter-chute and having an arm d, connected by a spring d with a collar 6Z3 on the rock-shaft C; D, aprinting-wheel having a shaft D suitably journaled in the front end of the frame D and equipped at one end with locking-pawl for the printing-frame, carried by a-pivot d, supported by a lug d on the upper surface of the front portion of the plate B, said pawl having a locking-shoulder 617 for engaging the stud d and a forwardly-projecting short arm 0Z with which engages a laterally-projecting stud d, carried by the lug D and serving to trip the pawl D when the cover A is depressed; D an arm connected with the frame D by means of a pivot al and equipped at its front portion with an inking device D having at its lower portion a lateral projection D, from which depends a tooth cl, riding upon the ratchet wheel D; D a spring connecting the arm D to the frame D; D a pawl pivotally supported on a standard (1, rising from the plate B, said pawl bearing a laterally-projecting stud al which serves during the elevation of the printing-frame to engage the ratchet-wheel D and rotate the printing-wheel; E, a shield or guard arranged beneath the front portion of the plate B and connected by pivots c with .the front end of said plate, said device E being provided at its rear end with a supporting-arm 6, having a lateral projection 6 which engages the upper surface of the plate B; F, an enlargement with which the front portion of the cover A is equipped on its outer surface and which serves as a housing for a counting device F and an indicator F Gr, coin-controlled mechanism controlling the closure device A and comprising a coin-actuated member G having a shaft G journaled in suitable bearingsf, and a coin-actuating cylindrical hood G having end portions journaled on the shaft G G an actuating-arm formed integrally with the hood G; G, a link con- .necting the extremity of the arm Gr with a lug f on the inner surface of the front portion of the cover A; G, a locking-dog supported on a pivot g, projecting inwardly from the side A of the casing, said device having a hook or locking-shoulderg at its upper extremity and a short arm 9 at its lower portion connected by a spring 9 with the plate A G a triangular member fixed on the shaft Gr and serving in the initial movement of the cover A to release the locking device G; H, a coin-slot-closing plate slidably connected with the cover A; I, a link connected with an arm 1 of the indicator 'waeso F such link being provided at its lower end with a projection 71 for engaging the lugs 0 on the door A and a rearwardly-projecting arm it, which serves as a weight, tending to throw the lower end'of the link I forwardly; 1 a guide for the lower portion of the link I; J, a rock-lever supported on a pivot 76, projecting forwardly from the rear plate of the casing; J, a link connected with one arm of the lever J and with a fixed arm J with which the member 13 of the letter-chute is provided; J a link connected with the other end of the lever J and with the member B of the letter-chute; J*, a link connected by a pivot k with the lever J and provided with a trip-arm J; J, a link supported on a pivot 75 projecting from the plate A and having its upper end connected by a pivot Z9 with the link J 4 near the central portion thereof; J 'an arm connected at its front end by a pivot H with a lug on the casing-front; J a link connecting the arm J with a lug is, with which the cover A is provided on its inner surface, and K a box for maintaining the letters in the order of their introduction.

The casing or receptacle may be of any suitable construction. We have shown the end A removable, a portion of said end being shown by broken lines in Fig. 2. The upper end of the member A is provided with a slot Z, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) which permits the casing end to be put into position with relation to the shaft C, which projects beyond the end and bears the handle C. The cover or letter-chute-closure device A is of the curved form illustrated, having end flanges Z, which embrace the outer upper margins of the ends of the casing. The member A is provided at its front lower inner margin with a lug Z which affords a locking-shoulder for engagement with the shoulder 9 of the locking device G. The stationary front of the casing has its upper edge bent inwardly at the opening A and is provided thereat with a strengthening rib Z To the inner surface of the door A is connected a coin-receptacle m, which may be provided with any suitable means for preventing removal of the coins therefrom by unauthorized persons. and which may be removably connected with the door in any suitable manner. The casing-front is provided with a short chute-section m, which receives the coin from the coin-actuated member G and dropped from the position indicated in dotted lines to the position indicated in full lines the cross-section of the letter-chute will be increased, so that the letters will fall freely into the box, even though they are forced into the passage of the letter-chute in the folded position thereof under a considerable pressure. The upper plate B of the letter-chute is firmly secured to the casing at its rear end by a lug a and at its front end by lugs 12. It is provided with an opening 9, permitting the printing-frame and printing-wheel to spring to the position indicated in Fig. 12. The support a of the guard E passes through this slot or opening and hooks over the upper surface of the plate B. The cover A is equipped on its inner surface with a cam (1, having inclined surfaces q q. The guard E is provided with a perforation 2", which serves to permit the printing-wheel to extend through the guard. The enlargement F is provided with slots 8 8, through which the counting device F and the indicator F may be viewed. The counting device is provided with an arm 5-, which drops by gravity when the cover A is raised and is elevated by means of a lug s on the plate B when the cover A is depressed. The counting device is of any ordinary construction'and is actuated when the cover A is depressed. The arm I is rigidly connected with the rotary indicator F and bears normally upon the lower end of a slot .9" in the cover A. When the cover is elevated, the link I is raised through the medium of the arm I and is permitted to swing forwardly, so that its lower end rests upon the lug a of the door A. When the cover A is depressed, the arm 1 is swung to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10. In one position of the arm I the surface of the color of the casing is exposed at the slot .5", and in the other position of the arm the surface s of a difierent color calculated to attract attention is exposed at said slot. Thus if the closure device A has been actuated this fact will be indicated by the surface 8 being shown at slot s.

The member Gr is shown provided with three non-radial coin-recesses t, which correspond with the three sides of the triangle G. In any position of rest of the member Gr, therefore, a-coin-recess is presented to a slot 2?, with which the casing-front is provided. The cover A is provided with a slot t, which registers with the slot t when the cover is in its depressed position. The member H rests normally upon the upper edge of the casing-front A, with its lower edge forming the upper wall of the slot t. When the cover is raised, the slot 25 is moved upwardly with relation to the slot t (the member H remaining stationary) and the insertion-passage is closed.

The pawl C is supported on a pivot on, projecting laterally from the lower end of the arm U, and the upper end of the pawl is connected by a spring 1 with a stud e on said arm. The length of the portion of the pawl which is beneath the pivot '2' is a little greater than the distance between the teeth of the segment C and the pivot, so that the pawl will lock the arm C against retrograde movement regardless of direction of movement when the pawl is in engagement with the teeth of the rack; but the movement of the arm C may be freely reversed after the arm has completed its traverse.

The indicating device D comprises a cylinder equipped at its lower end with a pad w, the cylinder being filled with a semifluid ink which will be absorbed by the pad and applied to the printing wheel. The cover A is equipped at one of its flanges Z with a cam a1, and the handle C is provided with a laterallyprojecting stud :12,- which works over said cam. The cam is of suitable shape to permit the cover to rise when the handle is turned in the proper direction and to prevent the cover from being raised independently of the operation of the handle.

From the foregoing detailed description the operation will be readily understood. A person wishing to send a letter by special delivery inserts the proper coin, usually a dime, at the slot t, Fig. 5. This couples the mem bers G Gr of the coin-controlled mechanism together. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7 there is in the position of rest a space between the locking-lug Z of the cover A and the lockingshoulder g of the device G. This permits initial movement of the cover. After inserting a dime the operator grasps the handle C and draws it forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2. This action serves to move the cover A initially, turn the member G through the medium of the link G, and there-.

by actuate the member Gr through the medium of the coin. This causes the triangle or star wheel G to rotate, thereby unlocking the device G and permitting the cover to rise the full distance. As the shaft C rotates the arm C is carried around, locking the shaft against retraction. As the cover rises it lifts the lever J 7 through the medium of the link J, bringing the free end of the lever J up beneath the adjacent end of the lever J, thereby rocking the lever J to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. This causes the sections B B of the letter-chute to be swung upwardly to the closed position. Also as the cover is raised it lifts. the printing mechanism through the medium of the lug D and the printing-frame extension D till the pawl D engages the stud d on the printingframe and locks the latter in its elevated position. While the printing-frame is being raised, the stud (Z13 of the pawl D (which is carried by stationary supports) engages the ratchet-wheel D and causes it to rotate. As

the tooth of the ratchet-wheel passes beneath the tooth d of the extension D of the inklng device the inking device is swung up- IIO wardly on the pivot 03 permitting the printing wheel to rotate freely. I Furthermore, as the cover A is raised it lifts the link I through the medium of the arm I of the indicator, and the weight it at the lower end of the link causes the link to swing forwardly and rest upon the lug a of the door A. By the time the cover has reached its highest position the cam-arm C has passed the downturned apex of the cam q, thereby holding the cover securely in its elevated position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4:. With the cover in its elevated position the letter may be inserted freely through the opening A into the letter-chute, where it will rest upon the bottom of the letter-chute composed of the portions 71. of the sections B B In the closed position of the bottom sections of the letterchute the device E rests upon the bottom of the letter-chute. Accordingly when a letter is inserted, it is frictionally engaged by the device E, thereby preventing it from passing beyond the printing-wheel. After the letter or package has been inserted the lever C is thrown from the position indicated in Fig. 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 2, thereby dropping the cover A to its closed position.

- As the cover drops the stud d of the lug D strikes the short arm of the pawl D and unlocks the printing-frame, thereby permitting the printing-wheel to fall upon the letter. This tripping action at the printing mechanism occurs soon after the cover starts to move downwardly and before the free end of the lever J 7 can reach the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 8. ,When the free end of the lever J 7 does reach the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 8, it drops the togglejoint of the links J 4 J 6 through the medium of the extension J thereby permitting the bottom sections of the letter chute to swing downwardly and drop the letter into the mailbox. While the cover is being lowered the lug s engages the actuating-arm s of the counting device, as illustrated in Fig. 9, thereby causing the operation to be registered. It should be stated that after the triangular member G has acted upon the device G to cause the cover to be released the device G reacts upon the member G to cause the member G to move with relation to the member G thereby releasing the pressure from the coin and permitting it to fall into the coin-receptacle. The link I after being raised to the elevated position remains in that position until the door A is opened to remove the mail, when the link is again freed and permitted to drop. Thus the indicator remains in a position to show when a letter has been inserted until the mail-box is opened to remove the mail.

It will be readily understood that many changes in details of construction within the spirit of our invention may be made. Hence no undue limitation should be understood from the foregoing detailed description, the same having been given for clearness of understanding only.

What we regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- p 1. In a mail-box, the combination of a suitable receptacle, a closure device, and a letterchute guarded by said closure device and having a movable wall lying in a given plane during the insertion of aletter and moving bodily to enlarge the passage after the closure device has been substantially closed, and a suitable printing device coacting with said letterchute.

2. In a mail-box, the combination of a suit-' able receptacle,a closure device, aletter-chute having a movable wall lying in a given plane during the insertion of a letter and moving bodily to enlarge the passage after the closure device has been substantially closed, a suitable printing device located adjacent to said letter-chute, manual actuating means, and operative connections between said actuating means and the printing device and closure dev1ce.

3. The combination with a suitable receptacle, of a rearwardly-opening top constituting a closure device, means for limiting the movement of said top, actuating means for said top, printing mechanism located beneath and actuated throughthe medium of said top,

and means for holding a letter during the printing operation.

4:. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a letter-chute therein having a normally depressed lower wall, a movable top for said receptacle, means connected with said top for raising the lower wall of said letter-chute to the closed position, and means for actuating said top.

5. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a horizontally-disposed letter-chute therein having a fixed upper wall and a movable normally depressed lower wall, printing mechanism disposed at the upper side of said letter-chute, a closure device, means for actuating the closure device and limiting the movement thereof, and means connected with the closure device and serving to raise the movable wall of said letter-chute, when the closure device is opened.

6. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a horizontally-disposed letter-chute therein having a fixed upper Wall and a movable lower wall, printing mechanism disposed at the upper side of said letter-chute, a closure device, means for actuating the closure device and limiting the movement thereof, means carried by the closure device for actuating the printing mechanism, and means connected with the closure device and serving to operate the movable wall of said letter-chute.

7. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a substantially horizontally disposed letterchute therein having a fixed upper wall and movable side and bottom walls, printing mechanism disposed above said letter-chute, a movable closure device, means for actuating said closure device and limiting the movement thereof, means for actuating the printing mechanism, and means connected with said closure device and actuating said movable walls of said letter-chute.

8. The combination of a suitable receptacle provided at its front portion with a letter-insertion passage, a substantially horizontally disposed letter-chute within said receptacle having a swinging lower wall, a top pivotally connected with the rear portion of said receptacle and having its front portion serving as a meansfor closing said insertion-opening, means for actuating said top and limiting the movement thereof, and actuating means for the movable wall of the letter-chute connected with and actuated by said top.

9. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a substantially horizontally disposed letterchute therein, printing mechanism disposed above said letter-chute and having a frame pivotally connected near the rear portion of the letter-chute, a top constituting a closure device for the letter-chute and pivotally connected at its rear portion near the rear portion of said letter-chute, means carried by said top for raising said printing mechanism, and means for actuating said top and limiting the movement thereof.

10. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a swinging top therefor constituting a closure device, a rock-shaft extending transversely of the receptacle, cam connections between said rock-shaft and top, and an actuating-handlefor said rock-shaft.

11. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a substantially horizontally disposed letter-chute therein, a printing device having a frame pivotally connected near the rear por tion of said letter-chute, a swinging top constituting a closure device, a pawl for locking the printing device in the elevated position, means carried by said top for elevating the the printing device when the top is raised and dropping the printing devicewhen the top is lowered, and means for actuating said top and limiting the movement thereof.

12. The combination of a receptacle. letterchute, a printing device having a swinging frame, an inking device carried by an arm swinging upon said. frame, a swinging top constituting a closure device, means carried by said top for actuating the frame of the printing device, a ratchet-wheel connected with the printing-wheel of the printing device, a pawl carried by a stationary support and acting upon said ratchet-wheel, means connected with said inking device and bearing upon said ratchet-wheel, whereby the inking device is moved with relation to the printing-wheel, and means for actuating said top and limiting the movement thereof.

13. The combination of a receptacle, a l1orizontal letter-chute having a stationary upper wall, a printing device having aframe pivotally connected with the rear portion of said letter-chute and having an upwardly-projecting arm, a suitably-sustained spring connected with said upwardly-turned arm and serving to depress the printing device, a closure device for said receptacle, and means for actuating said closure device and limiting the movement thereof.

14. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a swinging top constituting a closure device, a rock-shaft journaled in stationary supports, a cam connected with said rock-shaft within the receptacle serving to raise said top, acam connected with the outer surface of said top, and an operating-handle connected with said rock-shaft and provided with means engaging said last-named cam on its upper surface.

15. The combination of a receptacle, asubstantially horizontally disposed letter-chute having swinging sections constituting the lower and side walls of the letter-chute, a rocklever connected with said sections, links forming a toggle-joint connected with said rocklever, a suitably-actuated closure device having limited movement to permit insertion of mail, and actuating means connected with said closure device and serving to operate the swinging sections of said letter-chute.

16. The combination of a receptacle, a letterchute, having a stationary wall and movable sections constituting the opposite wall and the side walls, said sections being pivoted outside their portions constituting the side walls, a suitably-actuated closure device having limited movement to permit insertion of mail, and actuating means for said swinging sections actuated with said closure device.

17. In means of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, a letter-chute having two normally depressed sections, a suitably-actuated closure device having limited movement to admit mail, and common actuating means for the closure device and normally depressed letter-chute sections, for the purpose set forth.

18. The combination of a suitable receptacle, a printing device, means for holding a letter during the printing operation, a swinging top constituting a closure device for the letterchute, a counting device carried by said top and provided with a suitable actuating-arm, means connected with said receptacle for operating said counting device, and means for actuating said top and limiting the movement thereof.

19. The combination of areceptacle,a letterchute having swinging lower sections, a swinging top constituting a closure device, an arm J 7 serving to actuate said swinging sections, and a link connecting said arm with said swinging top, for the purpose set forth.

20. Inmeans of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, a swinging top constituting a closure device, a letter-chute, means includlng a rock-shaft for actuating I combination of a receptacle equipped with a toothed sector, a letter-chute, a swinging top constituting a closure device, a rock-shaft equipped with an arm provided with a pawl engaging said sector, and cam connection between said rock-shaft and top, for the purpose set forth.

22. In means of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, a horizontallydisposed letter-chute having a perforated stationary upper wall and swinging sections constituting the lower and side walls, a guard projecting into said letter chute, printing mechanism operating through the upper wall of the letter chute, a closure device, and means for actuating said closure device and limiting the movement thereof.

23. In means of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, a letter-chute, a closure device therefor, a rotary indicator carried by said closure device and provided with an actuating-arm, a link depending from said arm, a door through which mail may be removed equipped with a lug serving to hold said link in the elevated position, and means for actuating said closure device and limiting the movements thereof.

24. In means of the character described, the combination of a suitable receptacle, a substantially horizontally disposed letter-chute therein having swinging lower sections, actuating means for said sections including a toggle-joint equipped with a trip-arm, asuitably-actuated closure device for the receptacle having limited movement to permit insertion of mail, and a lever connected with and actuated by said closure device and serving to elevate said lower letter-chute sections when moved in one direction and to-trip said toggle-joint when moved in the other direction, for the purpose set forth.

25. A mail-box comprising a suitable receptacle for mail, printing mechanism, means for holding a letter during the printing operation, a swinging top having limited telescoping connection with the upper portion of said receptacle, and means connected with the top for actuating said printing mechanism, for the purpose set forth.

MORTIMER B. MILLS. HERBERT S. MILLS. 

